Crisis in our Lives

Most dictionaries define “crisis” as a turning point. One further definition is that a crisis is a dramatic emotional or circumstantial upheaval in a person’s life. The older we get, the more crises we have endured in our lives. What is a crisis for one of us may not be a crisis for all. It depends on where your priorities lie. I am using the term “crisis” in a negative sense, though there are positive crises.

Some of my friends and family tell me that, as they get older, crises are not as difficult to deal with. That they have matured and a crisis is just another event in their lives that they have to face head on and get through. That, to me, sounds a bit cold-blooded, though maybe it is just maturity talking.

I’m like my Dad. I’m more emotional than that. I tend to wear my heart on my sleeve. To me, a crisis, whether a personal crisis or a crisis in someone’s life who is important to me,  is, indeed, an emotional upheaval. I’m not comfortable until a solution is found. It seems, as I have gotten older, my ability to deal with a crisis has gotten worse, not better. Perhaps it is because I have dealt with a fair number of crises in my life. No more than anyone else probably, but a fair number nevertheless. I have dealt with crises very close to home. With my parents, my marriage, my extended family, my close friends. Now, my mind and body freezes up when a crisis occurs and I have to force myself to act. Crises frighten me and I become afraid I will somehow lose the person experiencing the crisis from my life due to the upheaval in their life. I fear that I won’t be adequate enough to help them.

The number of people in my family is dwindling. I’m usually not privy to their crises. We are quite spread out geographically, which makes helping family members difficult. I find that my friends have become my family. When my friends have a crisis, it is very personal to me. I want to help them. That isn’t always possible as people generally have to work out the solution to a crisis themselves. I usually have to content myself with listening if they want to talk.

A crisis in a person’s life doesn’t have to be a negative event. It can be a positive event that can change their lives for the better. Perhaps someone is leaving an abusive relationship. Even though that crisis would be terribly difficult, the end result would be a positive thing. Perhaps someone has reconnected with a person in their past who they thought was lost to them. Even though that would cause emotional upheaval, it would be a positive crisis and maybe not a crisis at all.

This is a good time in the history of the U.S. to talk about crisis. Another word for crisis is pandemonium. Many people see crisis and pandemonium in the U.S. political system during this year of 2016. It is a galvanized, corrupt system and an extremely contentious campaign for President is happening between two candidates, both of whom are questionable regarding honesty and ethics. Pandemonium is defined as wild uproar or unrestrained disorder which we all see in our Presidential campaign.

Crisis can be a positive or negative force in our lives. If it is a negative event, we have to deal with it as best we can. If it is a positive event, we have to learn how to embrace it. #amwriting #writing #blogging #crisis